Procedure may help reduce mesothelioma pain

A surgical procedure called cordotomy may help reduce mesothelioma pain by disabling certain “pain conductors” in the spinal cord. A study involving 160 mesothelioma patients revealed a good level of pain relief in every patient who had a cordotomy. Mesothelioma cancer can cause severe pain in the chest and back, which could only be mitigated using heavy sedatives, prior to cordotomy. Though there is no current cure for mesothelioma, several procedures are successful prolonging and improving lives of mesothelioma patients. Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that develops after an individual is exposed to...

Unions applaud landmark £5 billion mesothelioma verdict

The Supreme Court of Great Britain has ruled that insurance companies must pay as much as £5 billion ($7.97 billion) to families whose relatives died of mesothelioma or other diseases caused by asbestos exposure. The Court’s 4-1 ruling brought an end to a five year legal battle in which insurance companies sought to avoid payment of some claims involving asbestos-related diseases. Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union, Unite, challenged attempts by the insurance companies to avoid paying claims that date back to as early as the 1940s. Insurers argued that they should only be forced to pay claims for policies...

Lawyers for asbestos industry used stalling tactics to hasten former Marine's death, family alleges

The family of a former Marine who died three months ago from mesothelioma cancer has alleged that lawyers for the asbestos industry may have deliberately hastened his death through hours of testimony, the Los Angeles Times has reported. John Johnson died on January 25, 2012, just one day after he collapsed 40 minutes after the final deposition in his case. Johnson worked as a carpenter, mechanic and plumber over a thirty year period, and was also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. After being diagnosed with mesothelioma—a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure—Johnson and his wife filed a lawsuit in California...

Lawyers for asbestos industry used stalling tactics to hasten former Marine's death, family alleges

The family of a former Marine who died three months ago from mesothelioma cancer has alleged that lawyers for the asbestos industry may have deliberately hastened his death through hours of testimony, the Los Angeles Times has reported. John Johnson died on January 25, 2012, just one day after he collapsed 40 minutes after the final deposition in his case. Johnson worked as a carpenter, mechanic and plumber over a thirty year period, and was also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. After being diagnosed with mesothelioma—a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure—Johnson and his wife filed a lawsuit in California...

History of National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

National Mesothelioma Awareness Day will again be recognized this year on September 26th. The day is designed to promote awareness and safety, and to encourage Americans to raise money to research and eradicate the deadly form of cancer. National Mesothelioma Awareness Day was first established in 2004 by volunteers of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF). Due in large part to the efforts of MARF and Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), awareness related to mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses has steadily increased. In 2010, a Congressional Declaration made official the recognition of the day, supporting...

$4.5 million mesothelioma lawsuit verdict not excessive, court finds

A California court has upheld a $4.5 million award in punitive damages to the family of a man who died from mesothelioma cancer. Justice Ignazio Ruvolo ruled that the compensation to the worker’s family was justifiable because of the “highly irresponsible actions” of his employer, ArvinMeritor. The family of Gordon Bankhead filed the mesothelioma lawsuit against ArvinMeritor, alleging the brake manufacturer knowingly had employees handle products containing asbestos for nearly 30 years without providing any protection. Bankhead was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009 and died later that year. Asbestos is a...

Mesothelioma and Asbestos News Updates

Posted by Craig Whitney on May 18, 2012 Here are some of the mesothelioma and asbestos news stories that we are currently following: Construction company liable in rare mesothelioma cancer lawsuit (May 17, 2012): A New York company has been found liable for a rare form of mesothelioma cancer developed by a former contract employee. The jury ruled that Tishman Liquidating Corp. failed to...